Treating Infection

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to Surfactant Protein D (SP-D) or nucleic acids encoding SP-D or variants thereof such as surfactant protein A or mannan binding lectin for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection. Methods for determining the presence of a parasitic infection by determining levels of SP-D in a sample are also disclosed. Also disclosed are helminths for treating allergy, inflammation or infection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of treatments for parasitic infection, especially parasitic nematode infections.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Parasitic infections are major veterinary and public health problems. As an illustration, approximately one third of the world population is infected with a parasitic nematode at any one time. Infections in livestock typically lead to death and a loss of yield. In humans infections generally cause morbidity as opposed to death. The medical effects can be severe; including anaemia, impaired cognitive, physiological and immunological development.

Currently, treatment of nematode infections relies on a small range of pharmaceuticals. Resistance to these drugs is widespread in agriculture and emerging in humans. Resistance is currently a multi-billion dollar burden on agriculture and a potentially major medical problem.

Human infections are typically treated by administration of mebendazole and livestock are frequently treated empirically with mebendazole (or derivatives) or ivermectin. Such blanket drug administration underlies the widespread drug resistance problems in agriculture. No vaccines are presently available against parasitic nematode infections.

There is thus a need for alternative therapies for parasitic infections that are not associated with the disadvantages and problems mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides Surfactant Protein D (SP-D), or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.

In one embodiment, SP-D comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, or the SP-D fragment, homologue, variant or derivative comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70% sequence identity over at least 50 amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:1.

In another embodiment, the SP-D fragment comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3, or the SP-D fragment, homologue, variant or derivative comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70% sequence identity over at least 50 amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:3.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides SP-A or mannan-binding lectin for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.

In one embodiment, SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, has carbohydrate binding activity.

In one embodiment, SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, reduces parasite burden in the subject.

In one embodiment, SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, enhances alternative activation of alveolar macrophages in the subject.

In one embodiment, SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, induces innate lymphoid type 2 cells.

In one embodiment, SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, acts as an opsonin of the parasite.

In one embodiment, a lifecycle of the parasite involves infestation of the lungs of the subject.

In one embodiment, the parasite is a parasitic helminth. In a preferred embodiment, the parasite is a parasitic nematode.

In one embodiment, the subject is a mammal.

In one embodiment, the SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, is administered to the lungs of the subject. In a preferred embodiment, the SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, is administered intranasally.

In one embodiment, the SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, is administered in combination with an anti-parasite therapy. Preferably the anti-parasite therapy is an anti-nematode therapy selected from the group consisting of albendazole, mebendazole, thiabendazole, ivermectin, piperazine, pyrantel pamoate, and levamisole.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding SP-D, or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.

In another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising SP-D, or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.

In one embodiment, the composition further comprises a pharmaceutical excipient and/or carrier.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject, comprising a step of administering SP-D, or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to the subject.

In a further aspect, the invention provides use of SP-D, or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating and/or preventing a parasitic infection.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for determining the presence of a parasitic infection in a subject comprising the step of determining the level of SP-D in a sample from the subject, wherein increased levels of SP-D compared to a control sample indicate parasitic infection.

In another aspect, the invention provides the use of SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof in combination with helminth larva or a preparation thereof to enhance alternative activation of alveolar macrophages.

In another aspect the invention provides the use of SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof in combination with helminth larva or a preparation thereof to induce innate lymphoid type 2 cells.

The helminth larva or preparation thereof may be coated with SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising helminths for use in the prevention and/or treatment of allergy, lung inflammation or infection.

Administration of the composition increases levels of SP-D in a subject.

The composition may comprise whole helminths or a preparation thereof.

In a further aspect the invention provides the use of a helminth to induce innate lymphoid type 2 cells and/or to enhance alternative activation of alveolar macrophages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: SP-D is induced in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid following Nb infection. (a) Kinetics of SP-D levels were measured by ELISA in (i) BAL fluid and (ii) Serum following Nb infection. (b) SP-D levels of WT and IL-4/IL-13^(−/−) KO mice were measured in (i) BAL fluid and (ii) Serum in naïve mice and infected mice at day 5 post primary (1°) and secondary (2°) infection. Data are representative of one or two individual experiments. N=5 mice per group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01.

FIG. 2: Intra-nasal administration of SP-D enhances protection to Nb. (a) rfhSP-D treated or untreated mice were given Nb infection and killed at day 5 P.I. (b) Enhanced protection in rfhSP-D treated mice was established by quantification of intestinal worm burdens at day 5 P.I. (c) IL-4 and IL-13 cytokine levels in lung homogenates was detected by ELISA. (d) rfhSPD was incubated with 20 mM maltose to block the CRD head region before being intra-nasally administered. (e) Numbers of ILC2s and polarization of macrophages was also determined. Intestinal worm burden was quantified at day 5 P.I. Data are representative of two individual experiments. N=5-6 mice per group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01.

FIG. 3: SP-D enhances alternative activation of alveolar macrophages. (a) WT or LysM^(cre)IL-4Rα^(−/lox) were given secondary Nb infection and at day 5 P.I. intestinal worm burdens were quantified. (b) MFI of YM1 and Relmα expression on CD11c⁺SiglecF⁺ alveolar macrophages from D5 post-infected rfhSP-D treated or untreated mice was established by FACS analysis. (c) Sorted macrophages from naïve lungs of mice were cultured for 60 hrs with either IL-4/IL-13, rfhSP-D+IL-4/IL-13 or left untreated before staining for Relmα and YM1. MFI was measured by flow cytometry. (d) Macrophages isolated from lungs of rfhSP-D treated or untreated mice were intra-nasally transferred into naïve BALB/c mice. Mice were thereafter infected with Nb and worm burdens were quantified at Day 5 P.I. (e) Flow cytometric analysis of cell suspension of whole lung stained for ILC2 (lin⁻CD127⁺IL33⁺SCA-1⁺ICOS⁺) from rfhSP-D treated or untreated mice. Data are representative of one or two individual experiment. N=5-6 mice per group. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.

FIG. 4: SP-D binds to L4 stage of N. brasiliensis. (a) Confocal microscopic images of L3, L4 (lung) and L5 stage (intestine) of N. brasiliensis that were incubated with 20 μg/ml of rfhSP-D followed by staining with antibody to rfhSP-D. (b) 250 L4 stage larvae, coated or uncoated with rfhSP-D were intra-nasally administered into naïve mice. Intestinal worm burden were quantified at day 4 P.I. Numbers of ILC2 and alternatively activated macrophages were also assessed. Data are representative of one or two individual experiments. N=5 mice per group. *P<0.05.

FIG. 5: Native SP-D can enhance SP-D mediated protection. Mice were intra-nasally treated with BSA, rfhSPD or native SPD and worms were quantified at 5 days P.I. Data are representative of two individual experiments. N=5-6 mice per group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01.

FIG. 6: SP-D has an opsonic effect on macrophage ability to kill L4 Nb. A) Light microscopy, 10× magnification of N.b L4 (no macrophages), L4+alveolar macrophages (macrophages) and SP-D coated (20 μg/ml) L4+alveolar macrophages (macrophages+SP-D); B) Overlay of 20 sequence pictures of each well shown above, calculated SD of movement (FIJI software): white indicates moving L4, resting/dead L4 appear black (fade to background); C) Live L4:dead L4 ratio.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are based in part on the inventor's surprising determination that administration of SP-D to a subject with parasite infection reduces host parasite burden. SP-D mediates this function by direct interaction with both the host and the parasite.

Surfactant Protein D (SP-D)

In first aspect the present invention provides SP-D for use in the treatment and/or prevention of parasitic infection.

Surfactant Protein D has been identified and characterised previously, in for example Rust, et al (1991), Human surfactant protein D: SP-D contains a C-type lectin carbohydrate recognition domain. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics. 290 (1), 116-126; Lu, et al (1992) Purification, Characterization and cDNA Cloning of Human Lung Surfactant Protein D. Biochem. J. 284, 785-802; Crouch, et al (1993) Genomic organization of human surfactant protein D (SP-D). SP-D is encoded on chromosome 10q22.2-23.1. The Journal of biological chemistry. 268 (4), 2976-2983; Kolble, et al (1993) Assignment of the human pulmonary surfactant protein D gene (SFTP4) to 10q22-q23 close to the surfactant protein A gene cluster. Genomics. 17 (2), 294-298 (1993).

SP-D is 46 kDa hydrophilic calcium dependent, carbohydrate binding protein, classified under the collectin family of proteins. It is encoded by the long arm of human chromosome 10.

SP-D is secreted by Alveolar Epithelial Type II cells (ATII) cells, sub mucosal cells and Clara cells. It has its own secretory vesicle that extrudes from ATII cells into the alveolar lumen and associates with the underlying hydrophilic layer. Although the majority of SP-D is expressed in the lung, transcripts of SP-D have also been detected in other parts of the body, such as the intestine, thymus, prostrate, brain, testes, salivary gland, lachrymal gland and heart.

The basic structure of SP-D is organized into four regions: a cysteine containing N-terminal region, a triple-helical collagen region composed of Gly-X-Y triplets, an α-helical coiled coil neck region and a globular head region at the C-terminus consisting of a homotrimeric carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). The SP-D is assembled as trimeric subunits of basic polypeptide chain which multimerize to varying degrees of oligomers but typically is found as a dodecamer. They are formed from the linking of four trimers by disulphide bonds at the N termini.

The carboxy-terminal domains have C-type (calcium-dependent) lectin activity that mediates the interaction of collectins with a wide variety of pathogens. This results in pathogen opsonization and enhanced uptake by phagocytes. The neck region has disulphide binding sites that form inter-chain bonds that are required for assembling the SP-D into trimers. The N-terminal domain confers structural stability on the protein, owing to its disulphide-bonding pattern and dictates the degree of multimerization of the single trimeric subunits.

In a steady state, SP-D has important functions in maintaining the surfactant homeostasis and normal physiology of the lung. SP-D enhances clearance and uptake of apoptotic cells by binding to cell debris and cell-surface DNA, thereby controlling inflammation, also plays an essential role for maintaining immunological homeostasis in the lung.

SP-D can directly bind to host immune cells and influence their response and phagocytic activity. SP-D displays chemotactic activity on neutrophils and certain mononuclear phagocytes and can induce directional actin polymerization in alveolar macrophages in a concentration dependent manner. It also modulates the production of cytokines and inflammatory mediators in a pathogen dependent manner.

Surfactant proteins (including SP-D) have also been shown to play protective role against lung infection, allergy, asthma and inflammation.

As used herein, Surfactant Protein D (SP-D) refers to any SP-D polypeptide or nucleic acid (as the context requires). These terms may refer to human SP-D, for example, the sequences disclosed in the above references, or in GenBank accession numbers NM_003019.1, XM_005776.2, X65018.1 and L05485.1.

The SP-D may be a human SP-D having the GenBank accession number NM_003019.1. The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of such a human SP-D are shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 respectively.

(Amino acid sequence of human SP-D (translated from SEQ ID NO: 2)) SEQ ID NO: 1 MLLFLLSALVLLTQPLGYLEAEMKTYSHRTMPSACTLVMCSSVESGLPGR DGRDGREGPRGEKGDPGLPGAAGQAGMPGQAGPVGPKGDNGSVGEPGPKG DTGPSGPPGPPGVPGPAGREGALGKQGNIGPQGKPGPKGEAGPKGEVGAP GMQGSAGARGLAGPKGERGVPGERGVPGNTGAAGSAGAMGPQGSPGARGP PGLKGDKGTPGDKGAKGESGLPDVASLRQQVEALQGQVQHLQAAFSQYKK VELFPNGQSVGEKIFKTAGFVKPETEAQLLCTQAGGQLASPRSAAENAAL QQLVVAKNEAAFLSMTDSKTEGKFTYPTGESLVYSNWAPGEPNDDGGSED CVEIFTNGKWNDRACGEKRLVVCEF* (Nucleotide sequence of human SP-D cDNA clone (accession number NM_003019.1)) SEQ ID NO: 2 ATGCTGCTCTTCCTCCTCTCTGCACTGGTCCTGCTCACACACCCCCTGGG CTACCTGGAAGCAGAAATGAAGACCTACTCCCACAGAACAATGCCCAGTG CTTGCACCCTGGTCATGTGTAGCTCAGTGGAGAGTGGCCTGCCTGGTCGC GATGGACGGGATGGGAGAGAGGGCOCTCGGGGCGAGAAGGGGGACCCAGG TTTGCCAGGAGCTGCAGGGCAAGCAGGGATGCCTGGACAAGCTGGCCCAG TTGGGCCAAAAGGGGACAATGGCTCTGTTGGAGAACCTGGACCAAAGGGA GACACTGGGCCAAGTGGACCTCCAGGACCTCCCGGTGTGCCTGGTCCAGC TGGAAGAGAAGGTGCCCTGGGGAAGCAGGGGAACATAGGACCTCAGGGCA AGCCAGGCCCAAAAGGAGAAGCTGGGCCTAAAGGAGAAGTAGGTGCCCCA GGCATGCAGGGCTCGGCAGGGGCAAGAGGCCTCGCAGGCCCTAAGGGAGA GCGAGGTGTCCCTGGTGAGCGTGGAGTCCCTGGAAACACAGGGGCAGCAG GGTCTGCTGGAGCCATGGGTCCCCAGGGAAGTCCAGGTGCCAGGGGACCC CCGGGATTGAAGGGGGACAAAGGCATTCCTGGAGACAAAGGAGCAAAGGG AGAAAGTGGGCTTCCAGATGTTGCTTCTCTGAGGCAGCAGGTTGAGGCCT TACAGGGACAAGTACAGCACCTCCAGGCTGCTTTCTCTCAGTATAAGAAA GTTGAGCTCTTCCCAAATGGCCAAAGTGTGGGGGAGAAGATTTTCAAGAC AGCAGGCTTTGTAAAACCATTTACGGAGGCACAGCTGCTGTGCACACAGG CTGGTGGACAGTTGGCCTCTCCACGCTCTGCCGCTGAGAATGCCGCCTTG CAACAGCTGGTCGTAGCTAAGAACGAGGCTGCTTTCCTGAGCATGACTGA TTCCAAGACAGAGGGCAAGTTCACCTACCCCACAGGAGAGTCCCTGGTCT ATTCCAACTGGGCCCCAGGGGAGCCCAACGATGATGGCGGGTCAGAGGAC TGTGTGGAGATCTTCACCAATGGCAAGTGGAATGACAGGGCTTGTGGAGA AAAGCGTCTTGTGGTCTGCGAGTTCTGA

SP-D polypeptides for use according to the present invention include a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative of SP-D. Preferred fragments include those having one or more biological activities of SP-D.

The sequence of such a SP-D fragment was previously disclosed in WO 03/035679 and is shown herein as SEQ ID NO: 3 (rfhSP-D).

Furthermore, SP-D polypeptides also generally include any recombinant fragment of SP-D, preferably human SP-D, which lacks the N-terminal domain and/or the collagen domain, preferably both. Thus the SP-D polypeptide may be a recombinant fragment of SP-D, preferably human SP-D depicted in SEQ ID NO: 1, which lacks substantially lacks residues 1-178. The SP-D polypeptide may be a recombinant fragment of SP-D, preferably human SP-D sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, comprising substantially residues 179-355.

The proline residue corresponding to position 200 of the human SP-D sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) may be replaced by another residue. For example, the proline residue may be replaced with an uncharged polar residue, for example, a cysteine, serine, threonine or methionine residue. The proline residue may be replaced with a serine residue. Thus, the SP-D polypeptide may comprise a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 (rfhSP-D).

In preferred embodiments, the SP-D polypeptide comprises a “head” region or carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), comprising substantially the following residues:

SEQ ID NO: 5 VELFPNGQSVGEKIFKTAGFVKPFTEAQLLCTQAGGQLASPRSAAENAAL QQLVVAKNEAAFLSMTDSKTEGKFTYPTGESLVYSNWAPGEPNDDGGSED CVEIFTNGKWNDRACGEKRLVVCEF

Preferably, the SP-D polypeptide comprises means for multimerisation, preferably trimerisation, with another SP-D polypeptide. Such means may include for example, a biotin moiety which interacts with and binds to an avidin or streptavidin moiety on another SP-D polypeptide.

The SP-D polypeptide may further comprises a “neck” region comprising substantially the following residues:

-   -   DVASLRQQVEALQGQVQHLQAAFSQYKK (SEQ ID NO: 6)

Preferably, such a neck region is N terminal to the carbohydrate recognition domain CRD.

The SP-D polypeptide may further comprise at least one Gly-Xaa-Yaa stretch, preferably a sequence comprising a plurality of Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats, most preferably a sequence comprising 8 Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats. In a preferred embodiment, the SP-D polypeptide further comprises an N-terminal sequence comprising substantially GSPGLKGDKGIPGDKGAKGESGLP (SEQ ID NO: 7).

The SP-D polypeptide may comprise a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 (rfhSP-D).

The SP-D polypeptide may consist of a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 (rfhSP-D).

(Amino acid sequence of rfhSP-D) SEQ ID NO: 3 GSPGLKGDKGIPGDKGAKGESGL

DVASLRQQVEALQGQVQHLQAAFS QYKKVELFPNGQSVGEKIFKTAGFVKPFTEAQLLCTQAGGQLASPRSAA ENAALQQLVVAKNEAAFLSMTDSKTEGKFTYPTGESLVYSNWAPGEPND DGGSEDCVEIFTNGKWNDRACGEKRLVVCEF

The SP-D, SP-D polypeptide or SP-D fragment for use according to the present invention also includes homologous sequences obtained from any source, for example related viral/bacterial proteins, cellular homologues and synthetic peptides, as well as variants or derivatives thereof. Thus polypeptides also include those encoding homologues of SP-D/rfhSP-D from other species including animals such as mammals (e.g. mice, rats or rabbits), especially primates, more especially humans. More specifically, homologues include human homologues.

Thus, the SP-D for use according to the present invention may be a variant, homologue or derivative of the amino acid sequence of the SP-D sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or the rfhSP-D sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3, as well as a variant, homologue or derivative of a nucleotide sequence encoding such amino acid sequences.

The SP-D polypeptide, variant, homologue, fragment or derivative for use according to the present invention provides one or more of the biological activities of SP-D. Thus, the variants etc. provide one or more activities including but not limited to, carbohydrate binding activity, multimerisation activity, including trimerisation activity, alternative activation of alveolar macrophages, induction of innate lymphoid type 2 cells and opsonisation of parasites, as well as any of the biological activities or properties disclosed in the Examples.

The SP-D polypeptide, variant, homologue, fragment or derivative for use according to the present invention reduces parasite burden in a host infected with the parasite and/or reduces the risk of a subject contracting the parasite.

As used herein, a homologous sequence is taken to include an amino acid sequence which is at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% identical, preferably at least 95 or 98% identical at the amino acid level over at least 50 or 100, preferably 200, 300, 400 or 500 amino acids with the sequence of SP-D shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. In particular, homology should typically be considered with respect to those regions of the sequence known to be essential for protein function rather than non-essential neighbouring sequences. This is especially important when considering homologous sequences from distantly related organisms.

Although homology can also be considered in terms of similarity (i.e. amino acid residues having similar chemical properties/functions), in the context of the present invention it is preferred to express homology in terms of sequence identity.

Homology comparisons can be conducted by eye, or more usually, with the aid of readily available sequence comparison programs. These publicly and commercially available computer programs can calculate % homology between two or more sequences. % homology may be calculated over contiguous sequences, i.e. one sequence is aligned with the other sequence and each amino acid in one sequence directly compared with the corresponding amino acid in the other sequence, one residue at a time. This is called an “ungapped” alignment. Typically, such ungapped alignments are performed only over a relatively short number of residues (for example less than 50 contiguous amino acids).

Although this is a very simple and consistent method, it fails to take into consideration that, for example, in an otherwise identical pair of sequences, one insertion or deletion will cause the following amino acid residues to be put out of alignment, thus potentially resulting in a large reduction in % homology when a global alignment is performed. Consequently, most sequence comparison methods are designed to produce optimal alignments that take into consideration possible insertions and deletions without penalising unduly the overall homology score. This is achieved by inserting “gaps” in the sequence alignment to try to maximise local homology.

However, these more complex methods assign “gap penalties” to each gap that occurs in the alignment so that, for the same number of identical amino acids, a sequence alignment with as few gaps as possible—reflecting higher relatedness between the two compared sequences—will achieve a higher score than one with many gaps. “Affine gap costs” are typically used that charge a relatively high cost for the existence of a gap and a smaller penalty for each subsequent residue in the gap. This is the most commonly used gap scoring system. High gap penalties will of course produce optimised alignments with fewer gaps. Most alignment programs allow the gap penalties to be modified. However, it is preferred to use the default values when using such software for sequence comparisons. For example when using the GCG Wisconsin Bestfit package (see below) the default gap penalty for amino acid sequences is −12 for a gap and −4 for each extension.

Calculation of maximum % homology therefore firstly requires the production of an optimal alignment, taking into consideration gap penalties. A suitable computer program for carrying out such an alignment is the GCG Wisconsin Bestfit package (University of Wisconsin, U.S.A; Devereux et al., 1984, Nucleic Acids Research 12:387). Examples of other software than can perform sequence comparisons include, but are not limited to, the BLAST package (see Ausubel et al., 1999 ibid—Chapter 18), FASTA (Atschul et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol., 403-410) and the GENEWORKS suite of comparison tools. Both BLAST and FASTA are available for offline and online searching (see Ausubel et al., 1999 ibid, pages 7-58 to 7-60). However it is preferred to use the GCG Bestfit program.

Although the final % homology can be measured in terms of identity, the alignment process itself is typically not based on an all-or-nothing pair comparison. Instead, a scaled similarity score matrix is generally used that assigns scores to each pairwise comparison based on chemical similarity or evolutionary distance. An example of such a matrix commonly used is the BLOSUM62 matrix—the default matrix for the BLAST suite of programs. GCG Wisconsin programs generally use either the public default values or a custom symbol comparison table if supplied (see user manual for further details). It is preferred to use the public default values for the GCG package, or in the case of other software, the default matrix, such as BLOSUM62.

Once the software has produced an optimal alignment, it is possible to calculate % homology, preferably % sequence identity. The software typically does this as part of the sequence comparison and generates a numerical result.

The terms “variant” or “derivative” in relation to the amino acid sequences for use according to the present invention includes any substitution of, variation of, modification of, replacement of, deletion of or addition of one (or more) amino acids from or to the sequence providing the resultant amino acid sequence retains substantially the same activity as the unmodified sequence, preferably having at least the same activity as the SP-D polypeptide shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Polypeptides having the amino acid sequence shown in the Examples, or fragments or homologues thereof may be modified for use as described herein. Typically, modifications are made that maintain the biological activity of the sequence. Amino acid substitutions may be made, for example from 1, 2 or 3 to 10, 20 or 30 substitutions provided that the modified sequence retains the biological activity of the unmodified sequence. Alternatively, modifications may be made to deliberately inactivate one or more functional domains of the polypeptides described here. Functional domains of SP-D include the collagen domain, the neck region and the carbohydrate recognition domain. Amino acid substitutions may include the use of non-naturally occurring analogues, for example to increase blood plasma half-life of a therapeutically administered polypeptide.

Conservative substitutions may be made, for example according to the Table below. Amino acids in the same block in the second column and preferably in the same line in the third column may be substituted for each other:

ALIPHATIC Non-polar G A P I L V Polar - uncharged C S T M N Q Polar - charged D E K R AROMATIC H F W Y

The SP-D polypeptides, variants, homologues, fragments and derivatives for use as described herein may be in a substantially isolated form. It will be understood that such polypeptides may be mixed with carriers or diluents which will not interfere with the intended purpose of the protein and still be regarded as substantially isolated. A SP-D variant, homologue, fragment or derivative may also be in a substantially purified form, in which case it will generally comprise the protein in a preparation in which more than 90%, e.g. 95%, 98% or 99% of the protein in the preparation is a protein.

Variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives of SP-D for use according to the present invention may encompass related polypeptides which provide one or more of the biological activities of SP-D. Thus, the variants etc. may provide one or more activities including but not limited to, carbohydrate binding activity, multimerisation activity, including trimerisation activity, alternative activation of alveolar macrophages, induction of innate lymphoid type 2 cells and opsonisation of parasites, as well as any of the biological activities or properties disclosed in the Examples.

The variant etc. may be, for example, Surfactant protein A (SP-A) or mannan-binding lectin.

SP-A is an innate immune system collectin which has collagen-like domains that are very similar to SP-D. It is primarily expressed in the lungs and facilitates phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages through opsonisation.

A SP-A polypeptide, variant, homologue, fragment or derivative for use according to the present invention may be a human SP-A having the GenBank accession number NM_005411. The variant, homologue, fragment or derivative of SP-A may be as defined in the same manner as a SP-D variant, homologue, fragment or derivative.

The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of such a human SP-A are shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 and SEQ ID NO: 9 respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 8 MWLCPLALNLILMAASGAVCEVKDVCVGSPGIPGTPGSHGLPGRDGRDGL KGDPGPPGPMGPPGEMPCPPGNDGLPGAPGIPGECGEKGEPGERGPPGLP AHLDEELQATLHDFRHQILQTRGALSLQGSIMTVGEKVFSSNGQSITFDA IQEACARAGGRIAVPRNPEENEAIASFVKKYNTYAYVGLTEGPSPGDFRY SDGTPVNYTNWYRGEPAGRGKEQCVEMYTDGQWNDRNCLYSRLTICEF

The amino acid sequence of SP-A may be lacking the signal sequence (e.g. the amino acid sequence may lack residues 1 to 20 of SEQ ID NO: 8.

SEQ ID NO: 9 GACTTGGAGG CAGAGACCCA AGCAGCTGGA GGCTCTGTGT GTGGGTCGCT GATTTCTTGG AGCCTGAAAA GAAAGTAACA CAGCAGGGAT GAGGACAGAT GGTGTGAGTC AGTGAGAGCA GCGACTGGAC CCAGAGCCAT GTGGCTGTGC CCTCTGGCCC TCAACCTCAT CTTGATGGCA GCCTCTGGTG CTGTGTGCGA  AGTGAAGGAC GTTTGTGTTG GAAGCCCTGG TATCCCCGGC ACTCCTGGAT CCCACGGCCT GCCAGGCAGG GACGGGAGAG ATGGTCTCAA AGGAGACCCT GGCCCTCCAG GCCCCATGGG TCCACCTGGA GAAATGCCAT GTCCTCCTGG AAATGATGGG CTGCCTGGAG CCCCTGGTAT CCCTGGAGAG TGTGGAGAGA AGGGGGAGCC TGGCGAGAGG GGCCCTCCAG GGCTTCCAGC TCATCTAGAT GAGGAGCTCC AAGCCACACT CCACGACTTT AGACATCAAA TCCTGCAGAC AAGGGGAGCC CTCAGTCTGC AGGGCTCCAT AATGACAGTA GGAGAGAAGG TCTTCTCCAG CAATGGGCAG TCCATCACTT TTGATGCCAT TCAGGAGGCA TGTGCCAGAG CAGGCGGCCG CATTGCTGTC CCAAGGAATC CAGAGGAAAA TGAGGCCATT GCAAGCTTCG TGAAGAAGTA CAACACATAT GCCTATGTAG GCCTGACTGA GGGTCCCAGC CCTGGAGACT TCCGCTACTC AGACGGGACC CCTGTAAACT ACACCAACTG GTACCGAGGG GAGCCCGCAG GTCGGGGAAA AGAGCAGTGT GTGGAGATGT ACACAGATGG GCAGTGGAAT GACAGGAACT GCCTGTACTC CCGACTGACC ATCTGTGAGT TCTGAGAGGC ATTTAGGCCA TGGGACAGGG AGGACGCTCT CTGGCCTTCG GCCTCCATCC TGAGGCTCCA CTTGGTCTGT GAGATGCTAG AACTCCCTTT CAACAGAATT CACTTGTGGC TATTGGGACT GGAGGCACCC TTAGCCACTT CATTCCTCTG ATGGGCCCTG ACTCTTCCCC ATAATCACTG ACCAGCCTTG ACACTCCCCT TGCAAACTCT CCCAGCACTG CACCCCAGGC AGCCACTCTT AGCCTTGGCC TTCGACATGA GATGGAGCCC TCCTTATTCC CCATCTGGTC CAGTTCCTTC ACTTACAGAT GGCAGCAGTG AGGTCTTGGG GTAGAAGGAC CCTCCAAAGT CACACAAAGT GCCTGCCTCC TGGTCCCCTC AGCTCTCTCT CTGCAACCCA GTGCCATCAG GATGAGCAAT CCTGGCCAAG CATAATGACA GAGAGAGGCA GACTTCGGGG AAGCCCTGAC TGTGCAGAGC TAAGGACACA GTGGAGATTC TCTGGCACTC TGAGGTCTCT GTGGCAGGCC TGGTCAGGCT CTCCATGAGG TTAGAAGGCC AGGTAGTGTT CCAGCAGGGT GGTGGCCAAG CCAACCCCAT GATTGATGTG TACGATTCAC TCCTTTGAGT CTTTGAATGG CAACTCAGCC CCCTGACCTG AAGACAGCCA GCCTAGGCCT CTAGGGTGAC CTAGAGCCGC CTTCAGATGT GACCCGAGTA ACTTTCAACT GATGAACAAA TCTGCACCCT ACTTCAGATT TCAGTGGGCA TTCACACCAC CCCCCACACC ACTGGCTCTG CTTTCTCCTT TCATTAATCC ATTCACCCAG ATATTTCATT AAAATTATCA CGTGCCAGGT CTTAGGATAT GTCGTGGGGT GGGCAAGGTA ATCAGTGACA GTTGAAGATT TTTTTTTCCC AGAGCTTATG TCTTCATCTG TGAAATGGGA ATAAGATACT TGTTGCTGTC ACAGTTATTA CCATCCCCCC AGCTACCAAA ATTACTACCA GAACTGTTAC TATACACAGA GGCTATTGAC TGAGCACCTA TCATTTGCCA AGAACCTTGA CAAGCACTTC TAATACAGCA TATTATGTAC TATTCAATCT TTACACAATG TCACGGGACC AGTATTGTTT CCTCATTTTT TATAAGGACA CTGAAGCTTG GAGGAGTTAA ATGTTTTGAG TATTATTCCA GAGAGCAAGT GGCAGAGGCT GGATCCAAAC CCATCTTCCT GGACCTGAAG CTTATGCTTC CAGCCACCCC ACTCCTGAGC TGAATAAAGA TGATTTAAGC TTAATAAATC GTGAATGTGT TCACAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA

The present invention provides a SP-A polypeptide, variant, homologue, fragment or derivative for use for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a lectin that has an important role in innate immunity. MBL has an oligomeric structure (400-700 kDa), built of subunits that contain three peptide chains of about 30 kDa each.

MBL belongs to the class of collectins in the C-type lectin superfamily, whose function relates to pattern recognition in the first line of defense in the pre-immune host. MBL recognizes carbohydrate patterns, found on the surface of a large number of pathogenic micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. Binding of MBL to a micro-organism results in activation of the lectin pathway of the complement system.

A MBL, variant, homologue, fragment or derivative for use according to the present invention may be a human SP-A having the GenBank accession number NM_00242 or MP_000233, as applicable. The variant, homologue, fragment or derivative may be as defined herein for SP-D.

The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of such a human MBL are shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 11 respectively.

SEQ ID NO: 10 MSLFPSLPLLLLSMVAASYSETVTCEDAQKTCPAVIACSSPGINGFPGKD GRDGTKGEKGEPGQGLRGLQGPPGKLGPPGNPGPSGSPGPKGQKGDPGKS PDGDSSLAASERKALQTEMARIKKWLTESLGKQVGNKFFLTNGEIMTFEK VKALCVKFQASVATPRNAAENGAIQNLIKEEAPLGIIDEKTEGQFVDLTG NRLTYTNWNEGEPNNAGSDEDCVLLLKNGQWNDVPCSTSHLAVCEFPI

The amino acid sequence of MBL may be lacking the signal sequence (e.g. the amino acid sequence may lack residues 1 to 20 of SEQ ID NO: 10.

SEQ ID NO: 11 GGTAAATATG TGTTCATTAA CTGAGATTAA CCTTCCCTGA GTTTTCTCAC ACCAAGGTGA GGACCATGTC CCTGTTTCCA TCACTCCCTC TCCTTCTCCT GAGTATGGTG GCAGCGTCTT ACTCAGAAAC TGTGACCTGT GAGGATGCCC AAAAGACCTG CCCTGCAGTG ATTGCCTGTA GCTCTCCAGG CATCAACGGC TTCCCAGGCA AAGATGGGCG TGATGGCACC AAGGGAGAAA AGGGGGAACC AGGCCAAGGG CTCAGAGGCT TACAGGGCCC CCCTGGAAAG TTGGGGCCTC CAGGAAATCC AGGGCCTTCT GGGTCACCAG GACCAAAGGG CCAAAAAGGA GACCCTGGAA AAAGTCCGGA TGGTGATAGT AGCCTGGCTG CCTCAGAAAG AAAAGCTCTG CAAACAGAAA TGGCACGTAT CAAAAAGTGG CTCACCTTCT CTCTGGGCAA ACAAGTTGGG AACAAGTTCT TCCTGACCAA TGGTGAAATA ATGACCTTTG AAAAAGTGAA GGCCTTGTGT GTCAAGTTCC AGGCCTCTGT GGCCACCCCC AGGAATGCTG CAGAGAATGG AGCCATTCAG AATCTCATCA AGGAGGAAGC CTTCCTGGGC ATCACTGATG AGAAGACAGA AGGGCAGTTT GTGGATCTGA CAGGAAATAG ACTGACCTAC ACAAACTGGA ACGAGGGTGA ACCCAACAAT GCTGGTTCTG ATGAAGATTG TGTATTGCTA CTGAAAAATG GCCAGTGGAA TGACGTCCCC TGCTCCACCT CCCATCTGGC CGTCTGTGAG TTCCCTATCT GAAGGGTCAT ATCACTCAGG CCCTCCTTGT CTTTTTACTG CAACCCACAG GCCCACAGTA TGCTTGAAAA GATAAATTAT ATCAATTTCC TCATATCCAG TATTGTTCCT TTTGTGGGCA ATCACTAAAA ATGATCACTA ACAGCACCAA CAAAGCAATA ATAGTAGTAG TAGTAGTTAG CAGCAGCAGT AGTAGTCATG CTAATTATAT AATATTTTTA ATATATACTA TGAGGCCCTA TCTTTTGCAT CCTACATTAA TTATCTAGTT TAATTAATCT GTAATGCTTT CGATAGTGTT AACTTGCTGC AGTATGAAAA TAAGACGGAT TTATTTTTCC ATTTACAACA AACACCTGTG CTCTGTTGAG CCTTCCTTTC TGTTTGGGTA GAGGGCTCCC CTAATGACAT CACCACAGTT TAATACCACA GCTTTTTACC AAGTTTCAGG TATTAAGAAA ATCTATTTTG TAACTTTCTC TATGAACTCT GTTTTCTTTC TAATGAGATA TTAAACCATG TAAAGAACAT AAATAACAAA TCTCAAGCAA ACAGCTTCAC AAATTCTCAC ACACATACAT ACCTATATAC TCACTTTCTA GATTAAGATA TGGGACATTT TTGACTCCCT AGAAGCCCCG TTATAACTCC TCCTAGTACT AACTCCTAGG AAAATACTAT TCTGACCTCC ATGACTGCAC AGTAATTTCG TCTGTTTATA AACATTGTAT AGTTGGAATC ATATTGTGTG TAATGTTGTA TGTCTTGTTT ACTCAGAATT AAGTCTGTGA GATTCATTCA TGTCATGTGT ACAAAAGTTT CATCCTTTTC ATTGCCATGT AGGGTTCCCT TATATTAATA TTCCTCAGTT CATCCATTCT ATTGTTAATA GGCACTTAAG TGGCTTCCAA TTTTTGGCCA TGAGGAAGAG AACCCACGAA CATTCCTGGA CTTGTCTTTT GGTGGACATG GTGCACTAAT TTCACTACCT ATCCAGGAGT GGAACTGGTA GAGGATGAGG AAAGCATGTA TTCAGCTTTA GTAGATATTA CCAGTTTTCC TAAGTGATTG TATGAATTTA TGCTCCTACC GGCAATGTGT GGCAGTCCTA GATGCTCTAT GTGCTTGTAA AAAGTCAATG TTTTCAGTTC TCTTGATTTT CATTATTCCT GTGGATGTAA AGTGATATTT CCCCATGGTT TTAATCTGTA TTTCCCCAAC ATGTAATAAG GTTGAACACT TTTTTATATG CTTATTGGGC ACTTGGGTAT CTTCTTTTGT GAAGTACCCG TTCACATTTT TGTATTTTGT TTAAATTAGT TAGCCAATAT TTTTCTTACT GATTTTTAAG TTATTTTTAC ATTCTGAATA TGTCCTTTTT AATGTGTATT ACAAATATTT TGCTAGTTTT TGACTTGCTC CTAATGTTGA ATTTTGATGA ACAAAATTTC CTAATTTTGA GAAAGTCTTA TTTATTCATA TTTTCTTTCA AAATTAGTGC TTTTTGTGTC ATGTTTAAGA AATTTTTGCC CATCCCAAAA TCATAAGATA TTTTTCATGA TTTTGAAACC ATGAAGAGAT TTTTCATGAT TTTGAAATCA TGAAGATATT TTTCCATTTT TTTCTAATAG TTTTATTAAT AAACATTCTA TCTATTCCTG GTAGAATAGA TATCCACTTG AGACAGCACT ATGTAGGAAA GACCATTTTT CCTCCACTGA ACTAGGGTGG TGCATTTTTG TAAGTTAGGT AACTGTATGT GTGTGTGTCT GTTTCTGGGC TGTCTATTCT AGTCTATTTG TTGATGCTTG TGTCAAACAG TACACTATCT TAATTATTGT ACATTTATAG TTGTAACTAT AGTCCAGCTT TGTTCTTCTT AAAGTCAAGA TTTCCATATA AATATTAGAA ACAGCTTCTC AATTTCTACA AAATCCTGAT GAGGTTTCTA CTGGGACCAC ATTGAGTCTA TCAATCAACT TATGCAGAAC TGGCAACTTA CTACTGAATC TCTAATCAAT GTTCATCATG TATCGCTTCA TGTAACTAGA ATTTCTTTAA CTTAATTGCT ATGTTTTGAC ATTTTTAGTT TAAAAACCTT GTATATCTTG TTTTGGTGGT TTTAGTGATT TTAATAATAT ATTTTAAATA TTTTTTCTTT TCTATTGTTG TACACAGAAA TACAGTTAAG TTTTGTGTGT AGTCTTACGA TGTTTAGTAA ACTCAATAAG TTTATTTCTT AAATCTAGTA ATTTGTAGAT TCCTCTGGAT TTTGTATATG CATAGTCATG TAAGCTGAAA ATATGGCAAT ACTTGCTTCT TCCCAATTGC TTTACCTTTT TTCTTACCTT ATTGCACTGG TTAGCAACCC CAATACAGAG ACCACCAGAT CAGGTATAGA CTCCTGAAAG ACAATATAAT CAAGTGCTCC AGTCAGGCCT ATCTAAACTG GATTCACAGC TCTGTCACTT AATTGCTACA TGATCTAGAG CCAGTTACTT TGTGTTTCAG CCATGTATTT GCAGCTGAGA GAAAATAATC ATTCTTATTT CATGAAAATT GTGGGGATGA TGAAATAAGT TAACACCTTT AAAGTGTGTA GTAAAGTATC AGGATACTAT ATTTTAGGTC TTAATACACA CAGTTATGCC GCTAGATACA TGCTTTTTAA TGAGATAATG TGATATTATA CATAACACAT ATCGATTTTT AAAAATTAAA TCAACCTTGC TTTGATGGAA TAAACTCCAT TTAGTCACA

The present invention provides a MBL polypeptide, variant, homologue, fragment or derivative for use for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.

Nucleic Acid

In another aspect the present invention provides a nucleic acid encoding for a SP-D polypeptide, or fragment thereof, for use according to the present invention.

The nucleic acid sequence may be or comprise the sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 2.

The nucleic acid sequence may be or comprise the sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 4.

Preferably, the SP-D nucleic acid is derived from a natural SP-D sequence, for example, the human SP-D sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. The SP-D nucleic acid may lack sequence encoding the N-terminal domain and/or the collagen domain, preferably both. The SP-D nucleic acid may be a recombinant fragment of a natural SP-D nucleic acid sequence, preferably human SP-D depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2, which lacks substantially lacks residues 1-594, or any fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof. The SP-D nucleic acid may be a recombinant fragment of a natural SP-D nucleic acid sequence, preferably human SP-D sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising substantially residues 595-1128. Fragments, homologues, variants and derivatives of each of the above sequences are also included.

A triplet encoding the proline residue corresponding to position 200 of the human SP-D sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) may be replaced by a codon encoding another residue. Preferably, the proline residue is replaced with an uncharged polar residue, for example, a cysteine, serine, threonine or methionine residue. The proline residue may be replaced with a serine residue. Thus, preferably the SP-D nucleic acid may comprise a codon encoding serine at position 598 to 560 of the human SP-D sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. Such a replacement codon may therefore include AGC, AGT, TCA, TCC, TCG and TCT. The replacement codon may comprise AGC.

An SP-D nucleic acid may encode the rfhSP-D polypeptide having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3. The SP-D nucleic acid may comprise a sequence as set out in SEQ ID NO: 4 or may consists of a sequence as set out in SEQ ID NO: 4.

(Nucleic acid encoding rfhSP-D) SEQ ID NO: 4 GGAAGCCCGGGATTGAAGGGGGACAAAGGCATTCCTGGAGACAAAGGAGC AAAGGGAGAAAGTGGGCTTCCAGATGTTGCTTCTCTGAGGCAGCAGGTTG AGGCCTTACAGGGACAAGTACAGCACCTCCAGGCTGCTTTCTCTCAGTAT AAGAAAGTTGAGCTCTTCCCAAATGGCCAAAGTGTGGGGGAGAAGATTTT CAAGACAGCAGGCTTTGTAAAACCATTTACGGAGGCACAGCTGCTGTGCA CACAGGCTGGTGGACAGTTGGCCTCTCCACGCTCTGCCGCTGAGAATGCC GCCTTGCAACAGCTGGTCGTAGCTAAGAACGAGGCTGCTTTCCTGAGCAT GACTGATTCCAAGACAGAGGGCAAGTTCACCTACCCCACAGGAGAGTCCC TGGTCTATTCCAACTGGGCCCCAGGGGAGCCCAACGATGATGGCGGGTCA GAGGACTGTGTGGAGATCTTCACCAATGGCAAGTGGAATGACAGGGCTTG TGGAGAAAAGCGTCTTGTGGTCTGCGAGTTCTGA

As used herein, the terms “polynucleotide”, “nucleotide”, and nucleic acid are intended to be synonymous with each other. “Polynucleotide” generally refers to any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. “Polynucleotides” include, without limitation single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, “polynucleotide” refers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. The term polynucleotide also includes DNAs or RNAs containing one or more modified bases and DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons. “Modified” bases include, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications has been made to DNA and RNA; thus, “polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides as typically found in nature, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells. “Polynucleotide” also embraces relatively short polynucleotides, often referred to as oligonucleotides.

It will be understood by a skilled person that numerous different polynucleotides and nucleic acids can encode the same polypeptide as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code. In addition, it is to be understood that skilled persons may, using routine techniques, make nucleotide substitutions that do not affect the polypeptide sequence encoded by the polynucleotides described here to reflect the codon usage of any particular host organism in which the polypeptides are to be expressed.

SP-D nucleic acids, variants, fragments, derivatives and homologues may comprise DNA or RNA. They may be single-stranded or double-stranded. They may also be polynucleotides which include within them synthetic or modified nucleotides. A number of different types of modification to oligonucleotides are known in the art. These include methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate backbones, addition of acridine or polylysine chains at the 3′ and/or 5′ ends of the molecule. For the purposes of the use as described herein, it is to be understood that the polynucleotides may be modified by any method available in the art. Such modifications may be carried out in order to enhance the in vivo activity or life span of polynucleotides of interest.

The terms “variant”, “homologue” or “derivative” in relation to a nucleotide sequence include any substitution of, variation of, modification of, replacement of, deletion of or addition of one (or more) nucleic acid from or to the sequence. Preferably said variant, homologues or derivatives code for a polypeptide having biological activity.

As indicated above, with respect to sequence homology, preferably there is at least 50 or 75%, more preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90% homology to the sequences shown in the sequence listing herein. More preferably there is at least 95%, more preferably at least 98%, homology. Nucleotide homology comparisons may be conducted as described above. A preferred sequence comparison program is the GCG Wisconsin Bestfit program described above. The default scoring matrix has a match value of 10 for each identical nucleotide and −9 for each mismatch. The default gap creation penalty is −50 and the default gap extension penalty is −3 for each nucleotide.

The nucleic acid sequence may have at least 80, 85, 90, 95, 98 or 99% identity to the sequence shown as SEQ ID No. 2, or 4, provided that it encodes a SP-D polypeptide suitable for use as defined in the first aspect of the invention.

The SP-D nucleic acid for use according to the present invention may be in the form of a vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence as defined above. Such a vector may be used to introduce the nucleic acid sequence into a host cell so that it expresses and produces a peptide suitable for use according to the first aspect of the invention.

The vector may, for example, be a plasmid or a viral vector, such as a retroviral vector or a lentiviral vector.

The vector may be capable of transfecting or transducing a lung cell, for example an ATII cell, a sub mucosal cell or a Clara cell.

Alternative Activated Macrophages

The present inventors have also shown that SP-D is able to enhance alternative activation of alveolar macrophages (AAM). This is associated with protection against parasite infection and decreased parasite burden.

Macrophages are involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Depending on the types of cytokines that macrophages are exposed to, these cells are subjected to classical (Th1) or alternative (Th2) activation. In the first case, macrophages, particularly when activated by interferon gamma (IFN-α) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), have the capacity, through the production of NO and other intermediates, to destroy the remaining microorganisms in the inflammatory loci. In the second case, after exposure to cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, or IL-13, macrophages produce polyamines and proline, which induce proliferation and collagen production, respectively. Thus AAMs are well-known in the art. A non-exhaustive, illustrative list of markers for AAMs known in the art includes CCL18, CCL22, ECF-L/YM1, Stabilin-1 and RELMα. The ability of SP-D, or a fragment thereof, to induce or increase alternative activation of macrophages may therefore be assessed using techniques known in the art such as flow cytometry or fluorescent microscopy to determine the level of such markers. An increase in the detection of such markers in the presence of SP-D, compared to the level of detection under control conditions (absence of SP-D), indicates an ability to induce or increase alternative activation of macropahges.

As used herein, ‘enhancing alternative activation of alveolar macrophages’ refers to increasing the level of activation of AAM (i.e. by increasing the level of AAM activation markers, such as YM1 and RELMα as detailed in the Examples section) or to increasing the number of AAM.

The SP-D, or fragment, variant, homologue or derivative thereof, for use according to the present invention may induce or increase alternative activation of macrophages.

Innate Lymphoid Type 2 Cells

Innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILC2) are newly identified innate cells that have a crucial role in protection against helminth infections by inducing IL-13 cytokine responses. ILC2s may be identified by the expression of CD127, SCA-1, T1/ST2 and ICOS, as is detailed in the Examples section provided herein. Alternative markers for ILC2s may also be available, as provided in the art.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that administration of SP-D to a subject increases the number of ILC2 cells in the lungs. As used herein ‘increases the number’ is synonymous with ‘induce’, ‘enhance’ or ‘stimulate’. Each of these terms refers to the fact that the number of ILC2 cells is greater in a subject following administration of SP-D.

The induction of ILC2s by SP-D may be assessed using techniques well known in the art, for example using flow cytometry or fluorescent microscopy to assay the level of ILC2 markers as described above.

Opsonisation

The present inventors have surprisingly shown that SP-D is able to bind to parasites associated with the lung and act as an opsonin.

As used herein, opsonin is used according to its standard meaning to refer to a molecule that enhances phagocytosis by marking an antigen for an immune response. As such the SP-D, or fragment thereof, for use according to the present invention may act as an opsonin of the parasite.

Methods for measuring phagocytosis are well known in the art. A non-exhaustive, illustrative summary is provided in Chow et al. (2004; Measurements of Phagocytosis and Phagosomal Maturation; Current Protocols in Cell Biology; 22:15.7.1-15.7.33).

The SP-D for use according to the present invention may opsonise a parasitic nematode during the lung-associated stage of development, typically the L4 stage.

Parasitic Infection

As used herein the term ‘parasitic infection’ relates to a condition caused by a protozoa or helminth. Specifically the term ‘parasitic infection’ relates to an infection caused by an endoparasite.

Parasites normally enter the body through the skin or mouth and are usually contracted from contaminated food or water, bug bites or sexual contact.

Symptoms of parasitic infection vary depending on the specific parasite. The symptoms may not be obvious and may mimic anemia or a hormone deficiency. Some of the potential symptoms can include itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, increased appetite, bowel obstructions, diarrhoea and vomiting eventually leading to dehydration, sleeping problems, worms present in the vomit or stools, anemia, aching muscles or joints, general malaise, allergies, fatigue or nervousness.

SP-D for use according to the present invention may be for use in treating and/or preventing a parasite infection, wherein the lifecycle of the parasite includes infestation of the host lung.

As used herein, ‘infestation of the host lung’ means that at least one stage of the lifecycle of the parasite occurs in the lung of the host. The parasite may be present in the lung of the host at a stage, or multiple stages, during its development, or the mature parasite may localise to the lung of the host.

Parasitic infections affecting the lung may be caused by protozoa, nematodes and trematodes. The diseases may be grouped according to their manner of presentation as follows: (1) those presenting with focal lesions and (2) those which characteristically present with diffuse lung disease. Focal lung lesions may be divided into cystic lung lesions, coin lesions and consolidation/pleural effusion. Diffuse lung disease may be divided into transient pulmonary infiltrates and alveolar/interstitial lung changes.

A non-exhaustive, illustrative list of parasites with a lifecycle which involves infestation of the lung is provided below.

Hydatidosis (Hydatid disease) is caused by larvae of Echinococcus tapeworm species, the definite hosts of which are members of the Canidae family. Most cases are caused by Echinococcus granulosus. When humans become accidental intermediate hosts after eating food contaminated with eggs, the ingested eggs hatch, releasing larvae which migrate from the gastrointestinal tract to the circulation. The eggs travel to the liver or lungs and slowly develop into hydatid cysts over a period of several months or years. Occasionally, lung cysts form after transdiaphragmatic spread of parasites following the rupture of liver cysts.

Dirofilariasis is caused by the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis. Adult worms live in the right ventricle of the definitive canine hosts and produce circulating microfilaria which can be transmitted by a variety of mosquito species to humans. In humans the worms pass through the right ventricle but fail to mature and are swept away to peripheral pulmonary arteries.

Paragonimiasis is caused by lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. Paragonimus westermani is responsible for most cases. The adult worms are found in pulmonary cysts, usually in pairs. They mature in a fibrous host-derived capsule, usually in the upper zones of the lung.

Amoebiasis is caused by the protozoan, Entamoeba histolytica. The motile trophozoite forms of the parasite live in the lumen of the large intestine where they multiply and differentiate into the cyst forms. Amoebic pleuropulmonary disease is the most common complication of amoebic liver abscess, occurring in 15% of patients with amoebic liver disease. It most commonly occurs by direct extension from a superior right lobe hepatic abscess through the diaphragm into the right lower lobe of the lung, presenting with cough, pleuritic pain and dyspnoea

Ascariasis is caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Transmission of the disease is faecal-oral. After eggs are ingested they hatch and larvae migrate via the portal circulation to the liver then via the heart to reach the lungs. Larvae then ascend to the trachea, are swallowed and eventually develop into adults in the small intestine, producing eggs 10-12 weeks after ingestion.

Ancylostomiasis is caused by two species of hookworm, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanushe. Larvae penetrate blood vessels and undergo heart-lung migration before breaking out into the alveoli and ascending to the pharynx from where they are swallowed.

Schistosomiasis is most commonly caused by three main species of schistosomes: Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum. Humans are infected by cercariae during contact with fresh water. The organisms enter the circulation and pass through the heart, lungs and then the liver to reach the target venous plexus. In severe longstanding S. mansoni and S. japonicum infections, the development of hepatosplenomegaly and portal hypertension may lead to diversion of eggs to the lung vasculature. This results in obliterative arteritis which may cause pulmonary hypertension.

Strongyloidiasis is caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. Filariform larvae penetrate the skin, enter blood vessels and undergo heart and lung migration. They migrate into alveoli and subsequently ascend to the trachea. Larvae are swallowed and develop in the small intestine into adult worms which produce eggs.

A variety of anti-parasite therapies are known in the art. A non-exhaustive, illustrative list of such therapies is provided below.

Antinematode therapies include mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, thiabendazole, diethylcarbamazine and ivermectin.

Anticestode therapies include niclosamide, praziquantel and albendazole.

Antitrematode therapies include praziquante.

Antiamoebic therapies include rifampin and amphotericin B.

Antiprotozoal therapies include melarsoprol, eflornithine, metronidazole, tinidazole and miltefosine.

The use of SP-D according to the first aspect of the present invention may include administration of the SP-D in combination with an anti-parasitic therapy.

Helminths Infection

The parasitic infection may be a helminths infection.

Helminths are worm-like organisms that live in and feed on living hosts, receiving nourishment and protection while disrupting their hosts' nutrient adsorption, causing weakness and disease.

Helminths are a polyphyletic group of morphologically similar organisms, consisting of members of the following taxa: cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (roundworms) and trematodes (flukes).

Cestodes (tapeworms) typically live in the digestive tracts of vertebrates as adults, and often in the bodies of other species of as juveniles. Over a thousand species have been described and all vertebrate species may be parasitized by at least one species of tapeworm. Examples of parasitic cestode species include Taenia solium, T. saginata, Diphyllobothrium spp., Hymenolepis spp. and Echinococcus spp.

Trematodes (flukes) are internal parasites of molluscs and vertebrates. Most trematodes have a complex lifecycle with at least two hosts. The primary host, where the flukes sexually reproduce, is a vertebrate. The intermediate host, which is the agent of dispersal, is usual a snail.

Trematodes can be classified into two groups, on the basis of the system the infect in the vertebrate host.

Tissue trematodes infect the bile ducts, lungs or other tissues. This group includes the lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani, and the liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis and Fasciola hepatica.

Blood trematodes inhabit the blood in some stages of their lifecycle. Blood flukes include species of the genus Schistosoma.

SP-D for use according to the present invention may be for use in treating and/or preventing a helminth infection, wherein the lifecycle of the helminth involves infestation of the host lung.

Parasitic Nematode Infection

The parasite infection to be prevented and/or treated according to the present invention may be a parasitic nematode infection.

The phylum Nematoda, also known as the roundworms, is the second largest phylum in the animal kingdom, encompassing up to 500,000 species. Members of Nematoda are elongated, with bilaterally symmetric bodies that contain an intestinal system and a large body cavity.

Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections are amongst the most prevalent infection of humans worldwide, with an estimated 3.5 billion cases of which 450 million individuals are seriously ill as a result.

Several clinical signs and symptoms can occur in patients with nematode infections. The specific symptoms may vary between patients and depend, at least in part, on the infecting species and the location of the invasion.

The life-cycles of the most common GI nematodes of humans are essentially similar, developing through L1-L4 larvae into mature L5 worms. In all, the adult worms reproduce sexually and the mature female worms produce and release eggs into their immediate environment of the host intestine. These eggs pass into the external environment via host faeces and then the L1 (first larval stage) develop within the eggs. The larvae most commonly develop through two moults within the external environment until they reach infective L3. Transmission to a host may occur by ingestion of infective eggs, ingestion of infective larval stages or penetration of the skin by infective larval stages. The extent of development in the external environment and mode of transmission to a host varies between species.

Infective L3 migrate through tissues or blood, depending on the infecting species, to the lungs of the host where L4 larvae commonly develop. Depending on the particular nematode species; L3, L4 or young adult worms then migrate up the trachea and are swallowed so as to enter the intestine. Development to mature worms then occurs in the intestine.

Intestinal invasion may be asymptomatic when the burden of worms is low, however, such invasion may result in presentations such as abdominal pain (usually vague), abdominal cramps/colic, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation.

Lung invasion by nematode larvae may be associated with fever, cough, blood-tinged sputum, wheezing, rales, dyspnea, substernal pain, pulmonary consolidations, eosinophilia, urticarial, asthma and angioneurotic oedema.

Invasion of muscle and other tissues (depending on the specific species infecting) may be associated with myalgias, fever, oedema, spasm, periorbital and facial edema, photophobia, sweating, conjunctivitis, weakness or prostration, pain upon swallowing, subconjunctival, retinal and ungual hemorrhages, rashes and formication, encephalitis, myocarditis, nephritis, pneumonia, meningitis and neuropathy.

SP-D may be used according to the present invention in order to reduce the nematode burden in a subject and/or to reduce (lessen) at least one symptom which is associated with the disease caused by the infection, for example one of the symptoms provided above.

Human nematode infections are typically caused by nematodes belonging to the order of Spirurida, Strongylida, Ascaridida, Rhabditidia or Oxyurida. SP-D may be used according to the present invention in order to treat and/or prevent infection caused by a nematode belonging to one of these orders.

The major GI nematode parasites of humans are Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis and Strongyloides stercoralis. SP-D may be used according to the present invention in order to treat and/or prevent infection caused by one of these nematode species.

Parasitic nematode infections are also relevant for livestock. Nematodes are the principal internal parasites that plague grazing ruminants such as sheep and cattle and nematode infection is therefore a major concern for industries which involve the keeping of such livestock. Failure to control nematode infections can lead to general ill health of the animals and decreased productivity and yield.

A non-exhaustive, illustrative list of nematodes that infect cattle includes Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Ostertagia bisonis, Trichostrongylus axei, Nematodirus helvetianus, Cooperia spp., Bunostomum phlebotomum, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichuris discolor, Chabertia ovina and Capillaria bovis.

A non-exhaustive, illustrative list of nematodes that infect small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, includes Haemonchus placei, Marshallagia marshalli, Ostertagia spp., Trichostrongylus axei, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Capillaria spp., Cooperia spp., Nematodirus spp., Strongyloides papillosus, Trichostrongylus colubriforms, Ascarus suum, Chabertia ovine, Trichuris spp. and Skrjabinema ovis.

The intensive management approach of using anthelmintics to control nematode infection in livestock, combined with environmental factors and dosing practices, has resulted in the selection of parasites resistant to some classes of anthelmintic products. As such, an alternative strategy for the controlling nematode infections in livestock is required.

The present invention therefore provides SP-D for use in treating and/or preventing parasitic nematode infection in a subject. The subject may be a mammal, for example the subject may be a human.

The subject may also be a domesticated ruminant, for example sheep, goat or cattle.

The use of SP-D according to the present invention may reduce the parasite burden in a subject. Reduction of the parasite burden means that the number of nematode larvae and/or mature worms in the subject is less than it was prior to administration of SP-D and/or that the number of nematode larvae and/or mature worms is less than in an equivalent control subject which has not been administered SP-D.

Treatment and Prevention

SP-D is for use according to the present invention in order to treat or prevent infection by a parasite.

When used for the prevention of parasite infection, the invention relates to the prophylactic use of SP-D. In this aspect SP-D may be administered to a subject who has not yet contracted the infection and/or who is not showing any symptoms of disease associated with the infection to prevent or impair the cause of the infection or to reduce or prevent development of at least one symptom associated with the infection. The subject may have a predisposition for, or be thought to be at risk of developing, a parasitic infection.

When used for the treatment of parasitic infection, the invention relates to the therapeutic use of SP-D. Herein SP-D may be administered to a subject having an existing infection or condition in order to lessen, reduce or improve at least one symptom associated with the infection and/or to slow down, reduce or block the progression of the infection.

The symptom(s) of the parasitic infection may be a symptom as defined above.

The term ‘treating’, as used herein, relates to the therapeutic use of a therapeutic entity. As such the entity may be administered to a subject having an existing infection or condition in order to lessen, reduce or improve at least one symptom associated with the infection and/or to slow down, reduce or block the progression of the infection.

The term ‘preventing’, as used herein, relates to the prophylactic use of a therapeutic entity. The entity may be administered to a subject who has not yet contracted the infection and/or who is not showing any symptoms of disease to prevent or impair the cause of the infection or disease or to reduce or prevent development of at least one symptom associated with the infection or disease. The subject may have a predisposition for, or be thought to be at risk of developing, the infection or disease.

Anti-Nematode Therapies

The major means of controlling human GI nematode infections is the administration of chemotherapeutic anthelmintic drugs such as albendazole, mebendazole, thiabendazole, ivermectin, piperazine, pyrantel pamoate, and levamisole.

Benzimidazoles (e.g. albendazole, mebendazole and thiabendazole) are broad-spectrum drugs that bind to free b-tubulin, inhibiting its polymerisation and so interfering with microtubule-dependent glucose uptake by the parasite.

Imidazothiazoles/tetrahydropyrimidines (e.g. levamisole and pyrantel pamoate) stimulate the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, resulting in overstimulation, blockade of the neuromuscular junctions and rigid paralysis of the nematodes. The nematodes are then unable to move in the intestinal tract and are swept out by the peristaltic action in the intestine.

Macrocyclic lactones (e.g. ivermectin) are generally used in the treatment of nematode infections in livestock, but are increasingly used for the treatment of human nematode infections. They act by opening glutamate-gated chloride channels, increasing chloride ion conductance, and leading to defects in neurotransmission and flaccid paralysis.

Heterocyclic ethyleneamines (e.g. piperzine) are used against a relatively small number of nematodes (e.g. A. lumbriciodes and E. vermicularis). It acts by reversibly inhibiting neuromuscular transmission by stimulating gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors in nematode muscle which results in flaccid paralysis.

SP-D for use according to the present invention may involve the administration of SP-D in combination with an anti-nematode therapy. For example the SP-D may be administered in combination with one of the entities detailed above.

As used herein, ‘in combination’ means that the SP-D and anti-nematode therapy may be used simultaneously, sequentially or separately.

As used herein, simultaneously refers to the situation wherein the SP-D and anti-nematode therapy are administered within 30 minutes of each other.

Herein the SP-D and anti-nematode therapy may be administered sequentially (i.e. administration of one followed within 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 1 week or 1 month by administration of the second). This process may be repeated for multiple doses of each.

Separate administration of SP-D may be performed before treatment with the anti-nematode therapy is commenced or after treatment with the anti-nematode therapy is completed.

Administration

The administration of SP-D can be accomplished using any of a variety of routes that make the active ingredient bioavailable. For example, the SP-D can be administered by oral and parenteral routes, intranasally, intraperitoneally, intravenously, subcutaneously, transcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Preferably, SP-D is administered such that it is available in an active form in the lungs of the subject to which it is administered.

For example, the SP-D may be administered intranasally or in the form of an aerosol.

Typically, a physician will determine the actual dosage that is most suitable for an individual subject and it will vary with the age, weight and response of the particular patient. The dosage is such that it is sufficient to reduce and/or prevent parasite infection.

The dosage is such that it is sufficient to stabilise or improve symptoms of the disease associated with parasitic nematode infection.

A pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention may be administered as described above.

Pharmaceutical Composition

The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising SP-D for use in the treatment and/or prevention of parasitic infection.

The pharmaceutical composition comprises SP-D, or a fragment thereof, as defined above.

SP-D may be administered with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient or adjuvant. The choice of pharmaceutical carrier, excipient or diluent can be selected with regard to the intended route of administration and standard pharmaceutical practice. The pharmaceutical compositions may comprise as (or in addition to) the carrier, excipient or diluent, any suitable binder(s), lubricant(s), suspending agent(s), coating agent(s), solubilising agent(s) and other carrier agents.

The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising helminths for use in the prevention and/or treatment of allergy, inflammation or infection.

Administration of the composition results in increased levels of SP-D. In particular, administration of the composition results in increased levels of SP-D in the lung.

An ‘increase in the level of SP-D in a subject’ means that the amount of SP-D is greater following administration of the composition than it was prior to the administration.

The composition comprises whole helminths or a preparation thereof. A ‘preparation thereof’ refers to a processed form of the whole helminth, for example a homogenised preparation.

The helminth is as defined herein. For example the helminth may be a nematode, such as N. brasiliensis.

The inflammation may be lung inflammation.

The allergy and/or inflammation may be associated with asthma.

The infection may be, for example, a viral infection (e.g. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or influenza) or a bacterial infection (e.g. tuberculosis).

The composition may comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient or adjuvant. The choice of pharmaceutical carrier, excipient or diluent can be selected with regard to the intended route of administration and standard pharmaceutical practice. The pharmaceutical compositions may comprise as (or in addition to) the carrier, excipient or diluent, any suitable binder(s), lubricant(s), suspending agent(s), coating agent(s), solubilising agent(s) and other carrier agents.

Kit

The present invention also provides a kit comprising SP-D for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection.

The kit comprises SP-D as defined above.

The kit may be in the form of pharmaceutical combination further comprising an anti-parasite therapy and/or pharmaceutical composition as defined above.

Method

The present invention further relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection which comprises the step of administering SP-D to a subject.

The method comprises the use of SP-D as defined above.

The method may also comprise the use of an anti-parasite therapy and/or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above.

The present invention also relates to use of SP-D in the manufacture of a medicament for treating and/or preventing a parasitic infection in a subject.

The present invention also relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of allergy, inflammation or infection which comprises that step of administering a composition comprising helminths or a preparation thereof to the subject.

The helminth may be a helminth as defined herein. For example the helminth may be a nematode, such as N. brasiliensis.

Administration of the composition causes an increase in the levels of SP-D in the subject. In particular, administration of the composition results in increased levels of SP-D in the lung.

Administering the composition may enhance the alternative activation of alveolar macrophages in the subject.

The present invention also relates to a method for determining the presence of a parasitic infection in a subject comprising the step of determining the level of SP-D in a sample from the subject, wherein increased levels of SP-D compared to a control indicates parasitic infection.

The sample may be a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), sputum or blood sample. Preferably the sample is a BAL sample.

The level of SP-D in a sample may be determined by standard methods known in the art, for example ELISA, ELIspot, mass spectrometry or western blot.

The control may be the level of SP-D in an equivalent sample from a subject who is known not to be suffering from a parasitic infection. The control may be the level of SP-D derived as an average level in equivalent samples from a plurality of individuals who are known not to be suffering from a parasitic infection.

A level of SP-D in the subject sample of 2, 4, 10, 20, 50 or 100-fold greater than the control level may indicate the presence of a parasitic infection.

The method may be used to monitor the progression of a parasitic infection. That is, samples may be taken from a subject who is known to be suffering from a parasitic infection at temporal intervals in order to monitor changes in the level of SP-D. In this embodiment, the level of SP-D in the sample may be compared to a control as defined above and/or the level of SP-D in samples taken from the subject at earlier time-points. Herein, increased levels of SP-D compared to those determined in earlier samples indicates continued and/or progressive parasitic infection whilst decreased levels of SP-D compared to those determined in earlier samples may indicate reduced parasite burden and/or parasitic infection.

Increased SP-D levels compared to those determined in earlier samples may indicate the need to alter and/or increase the treatment administered to the subject in order to reduce parasite burden.

The parasitic infection is a parasitic infection as defined above.

Use

The present invention also provides the use of SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof in combination with helminth larva or a preparation thereof to enhance alternative activation of alveolar macrophages and/or to induce innate lymphoid type 2 cells.

The present invention also provides SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof in combination with helminth larva or a preparation thereof for use to enhance alternative activation of alveolar macrophages and/or to induce innate lymphoid type 2 cells.

Helminth larvae or a preparation refers to the larval stage of the parasite which develops or is localised to the lung of a subject. As such larva or a preparation thereof may refer to L1-L4 larvae. The stages of particular parasitic helminths which localise to the lungs are known in the art.

The helminth is a parasitic helminth as defined herein. For example the helminth may be a nematode, such as N. brasiliensis.

A ‘preparation thereof’ refers to a processed form of the helminth larva, for example a homogenised preparation.

In one embodiment, the helminth larva or a preparation thereof are coated with SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.

The invention will now be further described by way of Examples, which are meant to serve to assist one of ordinary skill in the art in carrying out the invention and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 SP-D Levels are Increased Following N. brasiliensis (Nb) Infection

Analysis of SP-D levels in the BAL and serum of Nb infected mice showed SP-D levels to correlate with the kinetics of Nb infection (FIG. 1A). Highest levels of SP-D were found at the peak of infection; namely day 7 post primary infection in both BAL and serum. Following secondary infection, SP-D levels were also enhanced.

Example 2 SP-D Expression is Modulated by IL-4 and IL-13 Cytokine Levels

The inventors investigated requirements of IL-4 and IL-13 for SP-D production in response to Nb infection. Nb and IL-4/IL-13 double KO mice were exposed to primary (1°) and secondary (2°) Nb infection and at 5 days P.I, SP-D levels in BAL fluid and serum was quantified (FIG. 1B). WT mice had significantly higher SP-D levels compared to KO mice, thereby suggesting that SP-D production following infection was indeed dependent on IL-4 and IL-13.

Example 3 Intra-Nasal Administration of SP-D Enhances Protective Immunity to Nb

The inventors performed intra-nasal administration of rfhSP-D prior to Nb infection (FIG. 2A), This manipulation of pulmonary SP-D levels resulted in enhanced host ability to control infection as demonstrated by reduced intestinal burdens of adult Nb in rfhSP-D treated mice compared to BSA treated controls (FIG. 2B). Additionally, SP-D treated mice had significantly increased levels of Nb protective pulmonary TH2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 (FIG. 2C).

SP-D binds preferentially to inositol, maltose and glucose. Previous studies have shown the dependency of SP-D's function on its head region, which can bind directly to pathogens and mediate their clearance via opsonisation and neutralization. The inventors used 20 mM maltose to block CRD head region of rfhSPD. Mice treated with maltose-blocked SP-D had higher worm burdens than mice treated with rfhSPD alone (FIG. 2D).

Moreover, the higher worm burdens in mice treated with maltose-blocked SP-D Associated with reduced ILC2 induction and reduced polarization of macrophages to the alternatively activated phenotype when compared to mice treated with SP-D only (FIG. 2E).

Elevated pulmonary SP-D levels therefore enhances host ability to control Nb infection, this is related to SP-D associated enhancement in host TH2 immunity to Nb and ability of CRD domains to interact with ligands.

Example 4 SF-D Treated Alveolar Macrophages Show Increased Alternative Activation and Confer Enhanced Protection to Nb Infection

Alternatively activated macrophages (AAM) have been shown to be required for recall immunity against Heligmosomoides polygyrus and also for survival during Schistosomiasis. The inventors found this also was the case for recall immunity to Nb; mice deficient for IL-4Rα on macrophages (LysM^(Cre)IL-4R^(−/lox)) had an impaired ability to control secondary Nb infection (FIG. 3A). This suggested that enhanced SP-D mediated immunity to Nb may be a result of SP-D interaction with alveolar macrophages.

SP-D enhanced alternative activation of alveolar macrophages; intranasal SP-D treatment increased expression of the AAM markers YM1 and Relmα in CD11c⁺SiglecF⁺AF⁺AF^(high) alveolar macrophages when compared to BSA treated control mice (FIG. 3B).

The inventors then directly tested whether SPD could enhance alternative activation of alveolar macrophages isolated from naïve mice. Naïve alveolar macrophages were artificially polarized to AAM by ex vivo culture with IL-4/IL-13 in the presence or absence of SP-D. Co-culture with SP-D resulted in increased YM1 and Relmα expression when compared to macrophages treated with only IL-4/IL-13 (FIG. 3C).

The inventors isolated alveolar macrophages from Nb infected SP-D treated or untreated mice and intra-nasally transferred to naïve mice. Recipients of SP-D treated macrophages had reduced intestinal worm burdens when compared to recipients of untreated macrophages (FIG. 3D). This suggests that SP-D-enhanced protection against Nb infection is partly at least mediated by an enhanced AAM protective response.

The inventors also investigated whether SP-D modulated the development of other immune cells responses. It was found that protection correlated with an increase in numbers of innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILC2) in SP-D treated mice (FIG. 3E). ILC2s are newly identified innate cells that have been shown to play a crucial role in protection against helminth infections by inducing IL-13 cytokine responses.

Example 5 SP-D Binds to L4 Larval Stage of Nb

The inventors examined if SP-D could directly interact with Nb.

Confocal microscopy was used to demonstrate SP-D's ability to directly bind Nb L3, L4 larvae and also to the adult worm. SP-D binding was restricted to the surface of Nb L4 larval stage (FIG. 4A). Nb L4 are the lung associated stage of the parasite life cycle. This data shows that, in addition to driving TH2 associated pulmonary immunity to Nb, SP-D also acts as an interface between Nb L4 and cells of the pulmonary immune system. To test this, the inventors intra-nasally infected naïve mice with either Nb L4 coated with recombinant SP-D or uncoated Nb L4. Analysis of host intestinal parasite burdens at day 5 P.I revealed significantly reduced parasite numbers in mice intra-nasally infected with SP-D coated L4 stage larvae when compared to mice infected with uncoated L4 larvae (FIG. 4B). Moreover, mice showing enhanced protection had increased numbers of ILC2 cells and alternatively activated macrophages. These results suggest that SP-D binding to Nb L4 enhances host ability to control infection.

When SP-D and macrophages derived from Nb infected lungs were added to L4 Nb there was a significant decrease in the ratio of live:dead worms (FIG. 6). L4 Nb incubated with only macrophages derived from Nb infected lungs did not result in increased worm death. This is demonstrated by an equivalent ratio of live to dead L4 Nb found when comparing L4 Nb incubated with macrophages alone with L4 Nb only control.

This data indicates that SP-D has an opsonic effect on macrophage ability to kill L4 Nb (FIG. 6).

Example 6 SP-D Requires Carbohydrate Binding Head Region for its Optimal Function

In this study, the inventors made use of the truncated recombinant fragment of human SPD, which lacks the N-terminal tail region and consists only of a short region of the collagen stalk, followed by the neck and the globular CRD region. In order to assess if differences in function existed between the rfhSPD and native SP-D, each was intra-nasally administered and worm burden was quantified at day 5 P.I (FIG. 5). The inventors found enhanced protection to Nb when treated with native SP-D than rfhSP-D.

Material & Methods Animals Used

6-10-week-old mice were obtained from the University of Cape Town specific-pathogen-free animal facility. All experimental procedures were approved by the University of Cape Town Animal Ethics Committee. BALB/c background macrophage/neutrophil cell-specific IL-4Rα deficient mice (LysM^(Cre)IL-4Rα^(−/lox)) were generated as previously described and hemizygous IL-4Rα^(−/lox) mice were used as controls.

N. brasiliensis Infection

Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 500 N. brasiliensis L3 larvae suspended in 0.65%-0.9% NaCl using a 21G needle (Braun, Melsungen, Germany).

Adult worm burdens were determined by removing the small intestine and exposing the lumen by dissection. The intestines were incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours in 0.65% NaCl to allow the worms to migrate out after which the numbers of worms were counted under a dissecting microscope (Nikon Eclipse).

Viable motile L4 stage larvae of N. brasiliensis were isolated by finely cutting 2-day post-infected lung tissues, placing on sterile gauze and suspending them in a 50 ml centrifuge tube containing PBS at 37° C. for at least 3 hours. Viable worms migrated to the bottom of the tube and counted under a dissecting microscope (Nikon Eclipse). Infection of mice with L4 worms was achieved by intranasal administration of 250 viable L4 worms in a 50 μl droplet to lightly anesthetized mice.

Administration of rfhSP-D or BSA

For administration of SP-D, mice were lightly anesthetized before 20 □g of SP-D or BSA was intra-nasally applied in 50 μl of PBS using sterile micropipette. Mice were held upright until all of the fluid was inhaled.

Preparation of Single Cell-Suspension of Lung Tissue

Whole lung was removed from individual mice, finely cut and digested in Iscove's modified Eagle medium (IMDM) (Invitrogen) containing 50 U/ml collagenase type I (Invitrogen) and 13 μg/ml DNase (Roche) at 37° C. for 90 mins. Digested lung tissue were pushed through 70 or 100 μm nylon cell strainer (Becton Dickson, N.J.) and subjected to red cell lysis.

Flow Cytometry

1×10⁶ single cell suspensions from individual lungs were stained in MACS buffer with lineage markers PE (CD3, CD19, CD11b, FceR1, Ter119, CD4, CD8, B220, Ly6G/6C), anti-CD127 PE-Cy7, anti-SCA-1 V450, anti-T1/ST2 FITC (DJ8) and anti-ICOS-biotin-Strep-Qdot antibodies to stain for Innate lymphoid Type 2 cells (ILC2). To stain for alveolar macrophages, cells were stained with anti-CD11c APC, anti-Siglec F PE. For intracellular staining of alternative activation markers, cells were fixed with 2% PFA, permeabilized with 0.1% saponin buffer and stained with anti-YM1 biotin and goat anti-Relmα followed by staining with Strep-Qdot and Rabbit anti-goat Alexa 488 respectively. Anti-FcR (2.4G2) was used to block non-specific binding of immunoglobulins to the FCγII/III receptors. Cells were acquired using FORTESSA Flow cytometer (BD Biosciences) and the data analyzed using Flowjo software (Tree star, inc., Ashland, Oreg., USA). Antibodies were purchased from BD Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif. or MD Bioproducts.

BAL Fluid and Serum

Mice were sacrificed at specific time points following infection. Approximately 500 μl of blood was collected by cardiac puncture and the serum isolated before being stored at −80° C. until further analysis.

Mice underwent BAL with sterile PBS containing 0.25 mM EDTA. The lungs were lavaged with 1 ml 3 times. BAL fluid was centrifuged at 1200 rpm for 5 mins and the supernatant was frozen at −80° C.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Analysis

BAL fluid and serum from N. brasiliensis infected mice were analyzed for SP-D content by ELISA. 96-well flat-bottom plates (Nunc Maxisorp; Thermo Fisher Scientifica, Roskilde, Denmark) were coated overnight at 4° C. with 50 μl of Rb-anti-mouse SPD antibody that was diluted in 1×PBS. The plates were then washed four times in wash buffer and subsequently blocked with 200 μl blocking buffer at 37° C. for 3 hours. Following this, three-fold dilutions (1/160, 1/480 and 1/1440) of the samples and standards were prepared in dilution buffer and the diluted samples and standards were loaded into wells and incubated overnight at 4° C. The plates were further washed and 50 μl of biotinylated Rb-anti-mouse SPD antibody was diluted in dilution buffer and added and incubated at 37° C. for 3 hrs. 50 μl of Streptavidin-coupled horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (1/10000 dilution) was added after washing the plates and left in the incubator for 1 hour at 37° C. The plates were developed with TMB microwell peroxidase substrate system, and the reaction was stopped with 1M H₃PO₄. The plates were read at an absorbance of 450 nm using a VersaMax microplate reader (Molecular Devices Corporation, Sunnyvale, Calif., U.S.A). All antibodies were from BD Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.

Adoptive Transfer Experiments

Mice were treated with 20 μg of SP-D or BSA at D0, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 post-infection. Single-cell suspensions of pooled lungs were prepared at day 8 post-infection and alveolar macrophages were stained with anti-CD11c APC-conjugated and anti-Siglec F PE conjugated monoclonal antibody (MAb) (BD Pharmingen) before they were isolated (>95% purity) as CD11c⁺Siglec F⁺ Autoflourscent^(high) using a FACSVantage cell sorter (Becton Dickinson). 1×10⁵ macrophages were then transferred intra-nasally in to naïve BALB/c mice 24 hours prior to N. brasiliensis infection.

Cytospin Preparations of Alveolar Macrophages

To confirm the morphology of the isolated macrophages, cytospin slides were prepared and stained using the Rapiddiff staining kit.

In Vitro Culture of Macrophages with SP-D

Naïve alveolar macrophages (CD11C⁺SiglecF⁺AF^(high)) were isolated from single cell suspensions of lung tissue by FACSARIA and plated in duplicates at 4×10⁵ cells per well. Cells were stimulated with either recombinant mouse IL-4/IL-13, IL-4/IL-13+20 μg/ml of rfhSPD or left untreated. The cultures were incubated for 60 hrs at 37° C. Thereafter, cells were washed and stained for alternative activation markers, YM1 and Relmα as described above, before acquisition with FORTESSA flow cytometer.

Confocal Microscopy

L3, L4 and adult stage larvae of N. brasiliensis were fixed overnight in 2% paraformaldehyde at 4° C. The larvae were extensively washed using PBS containing 0.2% BSA and 1 mM CaCl₂. Non-specific binding was blocked by incubation of the larvae in 0.2% BSA in PBS for 1 hr at room temperature. Thereafter, the larvae were incubated with 20 μg/ml SPD in PBS containing 0.2% BSA and 1 mM CaCl₂ for 1 hr at 32° C. After extensive washing, the larvae were incubated with biotinylated rabbit anti-rfhSPD (1/200) antibody overnight at 4° C. To detect the SP-D binding, the organisms were subsequently incubated with streptavidin cy3 (1/500). Organisms were mounted on to slides using mowiol containing anti-fading reagent. All sections were viewed with a Zeiss Axiovert LSM 510 Meta NLO microscope.

Statistics

Data were expressed as mean±standard deviation and analyzed using one-tailed Mann-Whitney nonparametric T test with a 95% confidence interval. P-Value<0.05 were considered significant and are indicated by an asterisk. 

1. (canceled)
 2. The method according to claim 21, wherein SP-D comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, or the SP-D fragment, homologue, variant or derivative comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70% sequence identity over at least 50 amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 3. The method according to claim 21, wherein the SP-D fragment comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3, or the SP-D fragment, homologue, variant or derivative comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70% sequence identity over at least 50 amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 4. The method according to claim 21, wherein the SP-D fragment, homologue, variant or derivative comprises Surfactant Protein A (SP-A) or mannan-binding lectin (MBL).
 5. The method according to claim 21, wherein SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, has carbohydrate binding activity.
 6. The method according to claim 21, wherein SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, reduces the parasite burden.
 7. The method according to claim 21, wherein SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, enhances alternative activation of alveolar macrophages.
 8. The method according to claim 21, wherein SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, induces innate lymphoid type 2 cells.
 9. The method according to claim 21, wherein SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, acts as an opsonin of the parasite.
 10. The method according to claim 21, wherein a lifecycle of the parasite involves infestation of the lungs of the subject.
 11. The method according to claim 21, wherein the parasite is a parasitic helminth.
 12. The method according to claim 21, wherein the parasite is a parasitic nematode.
 13. The method according to claim 21, wherein the subject is a mammal.
 14. The method according to claim 21, wherein the SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, is administered to lungs of the subject.
 15. The method according to claim 21, wherein the SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, is administered intranasally.
 16. The method according to claim 21, wherein the SP-D, or the fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, is administered in combination with an anti-parasite therapy.
 17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the anti-parasite therapy is an anti-nematode therapy selected from the group consisting of albendazole, mebendazole, thiabendazole, ivermectin, piperazine, pyrantel pamoate, and levamisole.
 18. A nucleic acid encoding SP-D, or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.
 19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising SP-D, or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, for use in treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject.
 20. The pharmaceutical composition for use according to claim 19, wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutical excipient and/or carrier.
 21. A method for treatment and/or prevention of a parasitic infection in a subject, comprising a step of administering Surfactant Protein D (SP-D), or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof, to the subject.
 22. (canceled)
 23. A method for determining the presence of a parasitic infection in a subject comprising the step of determining the level of SP-D in a sample from the subject, wherein increased levels of SP-D compared to a control sample indicate parasitic infection.
 24. The method of claim 29, comprising administering SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof in combination with helminth larva or a preparation thereof.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The method according to claim 24 wherein the helminth larva or a preparation thereof are coated with SP-D or a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative thereof.
 27. A composition comprising helminths for use in the prevention and/or treatment of allergy, inflammation or infection; wherein administration of the composition increases levels of SP-D in a subject.
 28. The composition according to claim 27 wherein the composition comprises whole helminths or a preparation thereof.
 29. A method of enhancing alternative activation of alveolar macrophages or inducing innate lymphoid type 2 cells, the method comprising administering a helminth.
 30. (canceled) 